A LEARNER driver said to have crashed his car at 95mph after a night out and then claimed it had been stolen, has escaped a jail sentence.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Richard Evans, 22, who had been drinking, tried to avoid being prosecuted for motoring offences, but instead put himself at risk of jail.

Evans, who later owned up to police, was told by a judge his behaviour had been stupid and deserved punishment -- but he did not think it would be right to send him to prison.

Judge David Pirie said the defendant, who was of good character, was hard working, having kept the same job since he left school, and the court had a "perfectly viable alternative,." to custody.

Evans, of New Line, Bacup, was given 180 hours community punishment, fined £500 and banned from driving for 12 months.

He admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, using an uninsured vehicle and failing to report an accident.

Martin Hackett, prosecuting, said the defendant, who had been out in Todmorden with friends, lost control on a bend in Cliviger and crashed into a lamp post.

The car seemed like a write off to an onlooker and Evans told his friends he would report it as stolen.

Police found the door and ignition were not damaged and later went to his home where he told them the car had gone missing.

Mark Stuart, defending, said Evans, one of 10 children, did not prolong the matter after at first making a false statement to police. He had not been charged with any drink drive allegations.

The attempting to pervert the course of justice offence was at the lower end of the scale. Evans was in great fear of custody and would have difficulty coming to terms with prison life.

The defendant came from a decent family and none of his brothers and sisters had ever come to the attention of the courts before. His appearance had caused him and his relatives great shame.

Mr Stuart added Evans had bought the car to do up as a project and somebody else had earlier been behind the wheel.